Did you know that…

  • A Phase 1 study evaluating tigecycline (Tygacil®) to treat refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia is currently underway? [1]
  • Niacin extended release tablets (nicotinic acid, Niaspan®) was associated with a significantly higher rate of infections (appendicitis, bronchitis, cellulitis) compared to placebo in the AIM-HIGH trial which enrolled over 3400 patients? [2]
  • Macrolides and aminoglycosides have been found to restore gene function by suppressing stop codons? [3,4]
  • Sirolimus / rapamycin (Rapamune®), an immunosuppressive mTORC1 inhibitor, also has antifungal properties? [5]
  • Calcineurin inhibitors (cyclosporine- derivatives or cyclophilin-binders like DEB-025) have anti-viral activity against HCV and HIV? [6]
  • The CARDS toxin of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a recently discovered virulence factor which causes pulmonary inflammation, and/or anti-CARDS antibodies were detected in approx. 40% of ventilated ICU patients? [7]

Abbreviations

mTORC1           mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1
CARDS              community-acquired respiratory distress syndrome

References:

[1] http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01332786
[2] http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc1311039?query=featured_home
[3] Mandell Chapter on Aminoglycosides
[4] Zilverberg.  Gut. 2010 Apr;59(4):496-507
[5] Wong.  J. Antibiot. 1998; 5: 487
[6] Watt.  Am J Transplantation, 9: 1707
[7] M Muir.  CHEST 139: 305, 2011

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